There will be a "preorder canceled" email from Amazon here soon, but it doesn't mean anything for the book. Just that I can't change the release date on Amazon (unlike traditional publishing houses... who can move things several months later... several times... *jealous*)

Some of you may already know from my street team on Facebook or my newsletter, but I've been sick since January, and it became pneumonia in February. I was advised by my doctor to "take it easy," and even doing the...

Sitting on a barrel in Del’s tavern, Nic tossed the paper in the fire. Another royal job. One after another had rolled in after she’d returned the vial to Marcel. The Crown seemed to be through trying to win over the Houses with logic and bribes, and instead, coin flowed like blood into the Black Rose’s coffers.

Nothing to complain about, but there was only so many times she could make an assassination look like an accident before it strained believability. But when an offer came...

Through Nic’s earthsight eyepatch, Falken’s figure brimmed brightly near the open panel. He was still here, even if only shadows appeared to claim the chamber’s corner.

“Try to escape,” the Grand Divinus dared, still hovering the desk directly over Nic’s head. Her voice was matter-of-fact, as if she dealt with assassins daily. The Grand Divinus clearly noticed her, so that meant she had some precaution against Shade. An anti-mentalism sigil tattoo?

In the dark, Nic clutched the fine woven fabric of Falken’s coat, following him as he led the way through Divinity Castle’s network of secret passageways. His exceptional night-time vision made him an ideal leader here, she had to give him that. Her memory of the Contarini maps was perfect, but it didn’t do her any good in complete blackness.

Only the rare pinprick of firelight beamed through peepholes fashioned in the walls. The knowledge of who did what in the privacy of their...